Looking at the basics...Auroralabs presents a small format fused...

Looking at the basics...Auroralabs presents a small format fused deposition metal printer. Using plastics, this type of printer emerged from an open-source hobbyist movement some years ago. Efforts to commercialise low-cost small-format plastic printers have had mixed results.

Additive manufacturing by printing layers (in any material) is subject to very real constraints, two of the biggest being accuracy and speed. Judging by one sample from Auroralabs (the little honeycomb object) it seems their metal printer is subject to the same constraints as existing low-cost plastic printers. Accuracy can be improved by printing thinner layers but this increases the print time. These constraints can be (and have been) overcome in high-end machines...not cheap but there is a market, often in prototyping, and it's well-supplied with offerings.

Would be very good for Auroralabs to demonstrate technology to improve fused deposition fabrication at their price point, whether in plastics or metals. Accuracy (and surface finish) would need to be vastly improved to print metal parts to fit with traditionally machined components, often the first requirement for replacements.

Held for a period, made gains - hope you do too, but take care.

Even at $5+ I'd buy back instantly if they solve the problems above, near the existing price level.